Des Moines, IA

Go on a Zoofari through the wild attractions at the Blank Park Zoo. See lions and tigers stalking, and seals and penguins swimming. Take the children to a Zoo Tots class to read books and make crafts about popular zoo animals and shop the Wildthings Gift Shop to take home a zoo souvenir.

Address: 7401 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50315 - MAP
Phone: (515) 285-4722
Web: www.blankparkzoo.com

Enjoy hours of family thrills at Adventureland Park. Hold on to your heart as you race down the Gang Plank and Pirates Plummet, sending you 6o feet into inches of water. Splash and spill on one hundred action-packed water slides, roller coasters and attractions for hours of fun for the whole family.

Address: 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, IA 50009 - MAP
Phone: (515) 266-2121
Web: www.adventurelandpark.com

Round up the kids for fun and games at Plaza Lanes, the ultimate family sports attraction in Des Moines. Kids can bowl and play volleyball, baggo, flag football and dodge ball in a unique, wholesome environment. Enjoy food and refreshments at the state of the art Trophy Sports Bar and Grill.

Address: 2701 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310 - MAP
Phone: (515)255-1111
Web: www.plazalanesdm.com

The Prairie Learning Center is a wildlife refuge located minutes outside of Des Moines. Bring the family to see herds of wild buffalo and their calves grazing on the breathtaking tallgrass prairie land. Meander though the 13,000-square-foot, world-class nature exhibit hall and take home souvenir books from the Prairie Point Bookstore.

Address: 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City, IA 50228 - MAP
Phone: (515) 994-3400
Web: www.tallgrass.org

Enjoy family time together at the Brenton Skating Plaza, located on the Principal Riverwalk on the Des Moines River waterfront. Families spend hours on the outdoor ice rink during the winter, and attend concerts and other entertainment attractions during the summer when the rink becomes an event center.

Address: 520 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309 - MAP
Phone: (515) 284-1000
Web: www.brentonplaza.com

All the toppings for fun family are at Happy Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream in West Des Moines. This pizza place is the family fun destination to order crazy pizzas like the Matador pizza or the BBQ Joe, and top it all off with funny frozen treats like the Circus Funny Face and Monkey's Favorite, made with lots of bananas and three kinds of ice cream!

Address: 3751 EP True Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265 - MAP
Phone: (515) 222-1788
Web: www.happyjoes.com